UK girl's name
Rufta
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "beautiful".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Rufta is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Rufta popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1541, with 20 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 20 births.
This profile covers 69 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 2017 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Rufta is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 69 living people in the UK are called Rufta. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Rufta ranked #1541 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 20 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 20 girls were registered as Rufta.
- • About 69 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rufta as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1541
2024
Births in 2024
20
Latest year
Peak year
2024
20 births
Estimated living
69
2026
Meaning
What does Rufta mean?
The given name Rufta is an ancient Aramaic name that has its origins in the Middle Eastern region, particularly in the areas of modern-day Syria, Iraq, and parts of Iran. The name is believed to have been derived from the Aramaic root word "rft," which means "to heal" or "to comfort."
Rufta was a relatively common name among the Aramaic-speaking communities during the early centuries of the Common Era. It was frequently given to children with the hope that they would grow up to become healers or provide comfort to those around them. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in some ancient Aramaic inscriptions and manuscripts dating back to the 3rd and 4th centuries CE.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Rufta was a renowned Aramaic scholar and physician who lived in the city of Edessa (modern-day Şanlıurfa, Turkey) in the 5th century CE. His writings on medicine and philosophy were widely studied and referenced by scholars of his time.
In the 7th century, there was a prominent Aramaic poet named Rufta who hailed from the region of Beth Aramaye (modern-day northern Iraq). His poetic works, which often explored themes of love, nature, and spirituality, were highly acclaimed and have been preserved in several ancient manuscripts.
The name Rufta also appears in some early Christian texts and records from the Byzantine Empire. There was a Rufta who served as a bishop in the city of Antioch (modern-day Antakya, Turkey) in the 8th century CE. He was known for his efforts in promoting education and establishing schools in the region.
Another notable figure with the name Rufta was a Syriac Orthodox monk and theologian who lived in the 10th century CE. He was a prolific writer and contributed significantly to the development of Syriac Christian theology and philosophy.
It is worth noting that while the name Rufta was more prevalent in ancient times, it has largely fallen out of common usage in modern times. However, it remains a part of the rich cultural heritage of the Middle Eastern region and serves as a reminder of the linguistic and historical diversity of the area.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rufta over time
The chart below shows babies named Rufta registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2017 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Rufta, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 20 births in 2024, compared with 20 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rufta by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rufta was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #2836 | 49 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3372 | 20 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Rufta
- Ruby 60,551
- Rebecca 45,764
- Rosie 35,558
- Rachel 19,034
- Rose 18,043
- Robyn 14,556
- Rosa 6,236
- Rhiannon 6,180
- Rachael 4,702
- Rebekah 4,395
- Rhianna 4,177
- Ruth 4,118
FAQ
Rufta: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rufta in the UK right now?
In 2024, Rufta was ranked #1541 for girls in England and Wales, with 20 births registered.
When was Rufta most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 20 babies registered as Rufta in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rufta?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "beautiful".
How many people are called Rufta in the UK?
A total of 69 babies have been registered as Rufta across the 8 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.